For 25 years the specialist in social return

Twenty-five years of Ampliar, it was, according to director Charles van Teeseling, just like a walk to Compostella, one day things go well and the next day things are disappointing. Charles: "To carry that through and make it a success, you need three things: money, belief in your company and patience. Everyone involved has always had faith in our company and our mission: the founder, Henri Winkelman; the current owner, his son Dirk Winkelman; our commissioners, Constant van Schelven and Dick van Well; the organizations we have worked with and continue to work with; and our regular employees."

Dick van Well is one of Ampliar's two commissioners. Like his fellow commissioner, Constant van Schelven, he was already involved in the conception and founding of Ampliar. Dick explains, "With a small company like Ampliar, it is often more coaching, not so much hard supervision. But I can, if necessary, be quite difficult for Charles. Always with mutual great respect for each other, though."

That social return was becoming increasingly important for tenders was also realized by Renée Heinen, social return specialist at BAM. She believes that everyone should be given a chance. "I believe you can only make a difference if you do it together. On your own you go fast, but together you get much further. Not sticking to the familiar but also showing employees that the new path works." 

Piet Verbaant, who works as a social return advisor at Laudy in Sittard, among other things, often thinks about special projects he has carried out in cooperation with Ampliar, such as a project for former prisoners. Piet: "You want to help people find sustainable employment, but not everyone can work in construction. You have to be fit and you have to get your safety certificate. That's why I poke through to see if someone really wants to, and doesn't come because they have to. Because if the motivation is good, we've come a long way."

For several years now, Dura Vermeer has also been gaining notoriety as an advocate for social return. This is largely thanks to Mustafa al Shabaki, who is coordinator of Dura Vermeer's Social Return Bureau. Mustafa: "A major advantage of Ampliar is that everything is arranged very quickly. If I call and tell which employees I am looking for, I get lists of candidates with a suitable job description the same day. This is very nice, because I also have experience with companies that can sell well, but sit back once they have a contract. With Ampliar that won't happen to you, there is always a quick switch there."

In a few words, according to director Charles van Teeseling, it all seems to have gone quickly. "Those twenty-five years have flown by, mainly because so much has happened. Many wonderful things for which I also want to thank many people: the companies and municipalities for which we have worked and for which we are still allowed to work; our permanent employees, who do a fantastic job dedicated to our mission; our shareholder and supervisory board members for their unwavering support and trust; and our temporary workers who put their best foot forward every day, on the way to a better future."